New-York tribune., 1887-05-15

afraid we mussed our tires than in the whole
afternoon previous"
IN ADMIRAL PORTERS WORKSHOP.
AN HOUR AMONG HIS BOOKS AND MODELS
WASHINGTON May 13.--One OF the most SUD-
stantia houses on list. between Seventeenth ana
Eighteenth sts., il the homo of that famous oiu
warrior of the sea whose name Is linked with those
Of Rogers and Farragut Admiral Porter 1t is OF
brick painted brown with the arched windows, anu
n narrow. single door. There is pleasant gsruen
behind the high brick wall, which the sou'h
erly breeze blows with refreshing cooiness OH
summer afternoon. Over the driveway that enters
at the side is built an addition OF siugle
story and there, the big gateway, its WINDOWS
closed to the curious gaze of tho w0yfarer Dy pam
lace curtains, is .he library and workshop Oh .ne
Admiral-hs den. Here his two secretaries i've
among books aud drawings, models and engraVhsS'
photographs and curious old relics OF warfare,
savage and civilized and here the treess sailor mas
written the books and worked out the ideas that ha'e
made him famous in peace as in war
aCome any day at eleven" said the Admiral to inc
writer. and I'll show you where work ana "na'
work with. keep busy fIom IL till l, and theh 20
for ride
So went at II. on the first convenient day. az a d
being taken out through window OF the main wall
OF the house. up q short flight Of steps landed IN tue
den 1t was den," but it wasn't dark. cor
rdor running along tho south and tide, was all
of glass and the warmth and light OF an April sun
| penetrated TO every corner of the room -,
The veteran in his quiet suit of gray tweed with
his long gray beard and the ever present cigar III ms
| mouth led the way. He pushed open square OF the
glas, partition and rang four times on large gong
! that spoke with sharp and stirring souhd as
though it were still IN the engineroom OF his flagship
giving the signal to go ahead flll speed INTO
! cloud of Rebel smoke and gunboats.
John" said he to the colored man who appeared
/ l. 4t,a rd holo N
know that heap OF old models over the stable. BRING
| them up heie.'
Ave, aye. sirw said John, with true nautical
| pronptness, and tho Admiral turned to the inner
| room The Ills were covered with engravings and
charts aud the tables wete hidden under books and
| drawings A model of the AdmiraPs apparatus Tor
Gting torpedoes under water repOsed anicaby beside
n wooden imitation of Ericssons 4" Destroyer" and a
picture OF the mortar feet brchins forth smoke and
she'll below New-Orleans hung over against another
| of the block lde of Mobile Bay.
Thi. is plan of the bombardment OF the forts
below New Orleans" said tho old hero, pulling a
sheet OF drawing from its retirement un er pie of
racines 4" It has never been accurately described,
before. I'm doing this for one OF the cyclorama
| companies"
| There was the mortar feet in battle array, huggng
the shore below the point OF land behind which we're
the devoted rorts aud around which the broad river
sweeps in a ma gnifcsnt bend. Above were the rebel
| ennboats and below the Union ships OF war.
! That's something I'll wager you never saw
before, he continued, pulling out biz plan OF a
fertilization That's Fort jackson after | got
through With it,"
Fort Jackson was evidently in bad way. 1t
looked as though II was suffering IRON an attack OF
continent smallpox: There "9snt a Ioot Gt IL Hs .
open countcnance that hadn't been dug up by q
! Yankee shell. There were 5000 holes located by
the coast survey people tho rest OF the 10000 that
| we tossed to them landed in the o'erilowed
portionsp said the author of Fort Jackson's misery.
Then there were full working drawings of a l 800
ton cruiser on which the Admiral has been working
| or leaA for
inch aud six sx-inch guns. submarine gun, or a
| torpedo, pokes out from her long, wleked-ookng
| ram how twelve feet below the water line. Power
! tnl engines below steel deck on the level OF her
water line are to drive her nj a speed OF twenty-five
knots an hour and altogether she Is most iornld
able looking craft. II don't know that she will
ever be brilt," said the Admiral haven't the time
or humility to 20 before Congressional committees and
naval boards to answer lot OF useless questions ana
try TO meet senscless criticism"
"a All good mOrning, my friendP
This TO young man who entered with an excuse
for his tardiness and some photographs OF the
Admiral which ne had purchased
oh, too late TOR an autograph Now which
IA for the young lady and which Is for yourself
she pretty because always sign my name with extra
careiulness for a pretty girl -,
retired the happy poscssor oil two autographs on the
back of as many liKenesses OF the Admiral, just as
JOHN appeared with the miscellaneous collection OF
els from over the stable. ihey were mostly
models of torpedoes and every shape and variety
| wa, included There were rocket torpedoes, and
spar torpedoes, torpedoes TO be towsd behind and
10 DO pushed in 'front.' torpedoes be used
with a little steam launch and torpedoes TO be
worked from big ships They represented the ideas
that have sprung from tho teeming brain OF the
Admiral in the last score OF years aud might have
furnished stock in trade tor small regiment OF
| inventors While In the midst OF the discussion and
exclamation of this collection ot inventive bric-a
brac a carefully dressed coOred man was shown il
aud began his paintive tale of Woe
What's it all about !" asked the Admiral, sharply
but not unkindly.
For dc sup, ort of do colored ministers of dc
gosril sah" answered the colored man and brotl er
sto 5ping to catch his breath.
well 1 can't Go anything for you " said the
Admiral, Pm only looking out TOR the sick aud
hungry" SO, after several attempts to resume the
broken thread Of his petition, tho dusky
, DEPARTED leaving behind him In gentle diminuendo
the closing sentences OF bis parrotik 81 eech about
All tor dc ministers OF Christ an de spread OF d.
! word"
Admiral said OF the secretaries, see that
the man whom you helped TO bury his grand mother
the other day, has been arrested for gettinb money
G under false pietences."
. Then that's another half dollar gone wrong,
, replied the benevolent old dog, with quie
smile But IL was a good dodge, wasn't 1t ~
think il was q dollar " suggested tho secretary
9 who seemed to regard with some jealousy the inds
eliminate burial OF other peoples grandmothcrs a
his employers expense. .
, Well I'd rather err on that side than tn
other" was the thoug ghtfnl reply. And then for tea
OF firing the kind-hearted Admiral, who is gettni
I lust o little feeble under the weight or his man.
1 years, tue writer took his departure.
|
INCONGRUTTK
The Boston Courier.
Df